RCR123a safe to use with v10r, rotary, and mcgizmo aa?

[tangfj]

Hey guys, I just got some RCR123A's made by Tenergy. They are listed as LiFePO4 3.0v batteries. Are they safe to use with my v10r (stock), Rotary, and McGizmo Haiku AA? Just want to be sure before I put them in and potentially fry anything.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Hey guys, I just got some RCR123A's made by Tenergy. They are listed as LiFePO4 3.0v batteries. Are they safe to use with my v10r (stock), Rotary, and McGizmo Haiku AA? Just want to be sure before I put them in and potentially fry anything.

When I had my V10R before it died, I used AW ICR 16340s and then AW IMR 16340s. I was sent a replacement V11R and I only use AW IMR 16340s and now Kinoko IMR 16340s. The V10R and the V11R draw/handle some current, so I feel better running lithium-manganese cells in those two lights (along with my EagleTac D25C) and save the AW ICR lithium cobalt 16340s for the lower drain M11R and ShiningBeam I-Mini.

Chris

 

[tangfj]

When I had my V10R before it died, I used AW ICR 16340s and then AW IMR 16340s. I was sent a replacement V11R and I only use AW IMR 16340s and now Kinoko IMR 16340s. The V10R and the V11R draw/handle some current, so I feel better running lithium-manganese cells in those two lights (along with my EagleTac D25C) and save the AW ICR lithium cobalt 16340s for the lower drain M11R and ShiningBeam I-Mini.

Chris

Hmmm, I'm not sure I follow you, so does 16340=RCR123A? Also, I can't seem to find the information anywhere at the moment but any idea what chemistry the Tenergy batteries I have are (IMR or ICR)? Finally, I'm pretty sure it'll be ok but I have a XTAR VP1, I can charge my Tenergy RCR123A's in it right?

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Hmmm, I'm not sure I follow you, so does 16340=RCR123A? Also, I can't seem to find the information anywhere at the moment but any idea what chemistry the Tenergy batteries I have are (IMR or ICR)? Finally, I'm pretty sure it'll be ok but I have a XTAR VP1, I can charge my Tenergy RCR123A's in it right?

No, your VP1 cannot charge the LiFePO4/Tenergy cells. You would need the new Xtar VP2, like I have to charge them up.

3.0v-3.2v are LiFePO4 chemistry cells are different than Li-Co/Li-Mn chemistries. Lithium cobalt ICR is another chemistry, which can come in protected form, or unprotected form (no PCB circuit breaker added to them.) Lithium manganese--IMR chemistry, is a bit safer than Li-Co, but it doesn't usually come with a PCB circuit.

For high current lights, we like to use the IMR manganese chemistry, or the newer hybrid type cells, but hybrids usually only come in ICR/18650 form.

What you want is the IMR chemistry, which can handle higher current draws, vs. li-cobalt/ICR or lithium iron phosphate--LiFePO4 3.0v/3.2v cells, like the Tenergys, or SureFire K2 Energy cells.

Chris

 

[tangfj]

Oh ok, I did put the Tenergy's in to the VP1 earlier thinking it'd be ok and it seemed to charge them ok. I guess I shouldn't do that again?

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Oh ok, I did put the Tenergy's in to the VP1 earlier thinking it'd be ok and it seemed to charge them ok. I guess I shouldn't do that again?

No.

You don't want to charge up Tenergy LiFePO4 3.0/3.2 cells on the VP1. Get the Xtar SP-1, or the Xtar VP2, or the Tenergy 3.0v/3.2 chargers to charge them up.

Otherwise, depending on your light(s,) just get the ICR or IMR 16340/RCR123 3.6v/3.7v cells, if your light can handle '4.2v' (hot off the charger) cells.

Chris

 

[tangfj]

Thanks Chris... I'm trying to find a place that has the MP2 and VP2 in stock and that would be able to ship to me next week... any recommendations?

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Thanks Chris... I'm trying to find a place that has the MP2 and VP2 in stock and that would be able to ship to me next week... any recommendations?

I went with Mountain Electronics out of Seattle, so do a Google search. They handled things well during the initial recall of the first VP2 batch, which had been made with a plastic that could become brittle in colder temps.

Illumination Gear out of Florida has them and is a distributor, so check with them. $52.

If you can afford the Xtar VP2, just bit the bullet and cry once.

It's really a flexible 2 bay charger that will charge up 3.0/3.2v, 3.6v (4.20v) and the newer 3.8v (4.35v) cells. It'll do 10440/16340 sizes at 250mA and it'll do the others up to 1A, so charging rates are sufficient for most of our needs. Finally, it does LiFePO4 and Li-Co/Li-Mn chemistries, so your bases are covered.

The Xtar SP1 is a single bay charger that will do the three chemistries, but its charging rates are 500mA, 1A and 2A, so while it's a bit faster charging up the bigger 18650s, its 500mA rate is a bit high for our 10440 (AAA) and 16340 cells, plus it's got only 1 bay, so things are slower, or in the least...a stalemate when compared to a 1A 2 bay charger.

Chris

 

[tangfj]

I went with Mountain Electronics out of Seattle, so do a Google search. They handled things well during the initial recall of the first VP2 batch, which had been made with a plastic that could become brittle in colder temps.

Illumination Gear out of Florida has them and is a distributor, so check with them. $52.

If you can afford the Xtar VP2, just bit the bullet and cry once.

It's really a flexible 2 bay charger that will charge up 3.0/3.2v, 3.6v (4.20v) and the newer 3.8v (4.35v) cells. It'll do 10440/16340 sizes at 250mA and it'll do the others up to 1A, so charging rates are sufficient for most of our needs. Finally, it does LiFePO4 and Li-Co/Li-Mn chemistries, so your bases are covered.

The Xtar SP1 is a single bay charger that will do the three chemistries, but its charging rates are 500mA, 1A and 2A, so while it's a bit faster charging up the bigger 18650s, its 500mA rate is a bit high for our 10440 (AAA) and 16340 cells, plus it's got only 1 bay, so things are slower, or in the least...a stalemate when compared to a 1A 2 bay charger.

Chris

Thanks a lot Chris, the VP2 is definitely on my wishlist. Since I already have the VP1, I may just get the MP2 and maybe the XP1 (for travel) for now and save some money and maybe wait it out for whenever the VP3 comes out. I also already have a Tenergy TN270 that I discovered on the back says it charges RCR123A so maybe I could use that for now too.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Thanks a lot Chris, the VP2 is definitely on my wishlist. Since I already have the VP1, I may just get the MP2 and maybe the XP1 (for travel) for now and save some money and maybe wait it out for whenever the VP3 comes out. I also already have a Tenergy TN270 that I discovered on the back says it charges RCR123A so maybe I could use that for now too.

Just remember that 'RCR123' covers the three chemistries and two voltages, but the chargers are different. The Tenergy TN270 seems to charge up 3.6/3.7v Li-Co/Li-Mn cells (4.20v hot off the charger,) but not the 3.0v/3.2v (3.6v hot off the charger) LiFePO4 cells, so if you're running those, don't charge them on the Tenergy.

There's not a lot of info on the Tenergy site, but that's what I'm assuming.

If you need to charge up LiFePO4 cells on the cheap, get the Xtar SP1, which does the LiFePO4 3.0v/3.2v cells, albeit at a higher than desired charging rate. I think that they're about $22 shipped off of Ebay.

Chris